Sign



S. S. ADAMS June 9, 1931.

SIGN

Filed Feb. 27, 1951 G C) C) 7N VE'N TOE 5.5.AOAe4s Patented June 9, 1931 UNITED STATES STEPHEN S. ADAMS, OF ST. LOUIS MISSOURI SIGN Application filed February 27, 1931.

This invention relates generally to signs, and more specifically to lightrefiecting signs of the type including the use of cataphotes, or light-reflecting buttons, which reflect rays of light directed thereupon by automobile headlights and the like, for the purpose of illuminating the signs, the predominant object of the invention being to so construct sign of the type referred to that the work necessary to the servicing of the sign may be performed without removing the sign from the element on which it is supported.

A sign of the type referred to above ordinarily includes a panel arranged in a vertical plane which is provided with a number of apertures through which the forward portions of the cataphotes, or light-reflecting buttons, are extended. The apertures are disposed in such relative positions as to produce letters which in turn form a word or words, Stop or Slow, for instance. The exposed portions of the cataphotes are, of course, located at the forward face of the vertical panel referred to, and heretofore the rearmost portions of said cataphotes wereenclosed within a suitable housing which was bolted or otherwise secured to the rearmost face of the panel of the sign. It is necessary to periodically service signs of the work frequently involves replacing cataphotes of the sign with new cataphotes, and heretofore such servicing work involved removing the sign from the element by which it was supported in order that said sign might be placed face down on the ground or other support. The housing which enclosed the rearmost portions of the cataphotes was then removed from the associated panel by removing a number of bolts or other fastening devices which held said housing in place, whereupon access would be had to the cataphotes for the necessary work in connection therewith. It is obvious that heretofore the work of servicing a sign of the type to which this invention relates was quite a task, and the main purpose of the present invention is to so construct such a sign that access may be type under consideration, and this servicinghad to the rearmost portions of the cata- Serial No. 518,629.

photes without removing the sign from the element by which it is supported. Briefly stated, the invention involves providing the sign with a housing that encloses the rearmost portions of the cataphotes which is slidable into and out of position on the vertical panel of the sign. In View of this arrangement, it is necessary for the person servicing the sign merely to remove a single bolt, or other fastening device, which retains the slidable housing in place. The housing may then be slidingly removed from the panel of the sign, leaving the rearmost portions of the cataphotes entirely exposed and completely accessible for any work which need be performed in connection therewith. After the sign has been serviced the housing may be slidingly replaced on the vertical panel of the sign and the single fastening device replaced, whereby the rearmost portions of the cataphotes will again be properly housed. It is important to note that the removal of the slidable housing and its replacement after the sign has been serviced is done without removing the sign from its support, whereby the time and energy formerly expended in removing the sign from its support and replacing said sign on the support is entirely eliminated.

Fig. 1 is a rear elevation of a sign constructed in accordance with this application. 7

'Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the sign illustrated in Fig. v1.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal section taken on line 33 of Fig. 1.

In the drawings, wherein is shown for the purpose of illustration, merely, one embodiment of the invention, A designates the improved sign generally, said sign including a panel B which is disposed in a substantially vertical plane. The panel B is provided on its forward face with appropriate wording, the particular panel illustrated in the drawing bearing the words Thru and Trafiic at the top and bottom, respectively, of the panel, and the word Stop at the approximate vertical center of the panel. Theletters which form the words referred to are formed in any suitable manner, for instance, said letters may be raised and painted so that they may be easily read in daylight. In addition to being provided with letters so formed, the panel B of the sign is provided with perforations C which are arranged in conformity with the, letters of the word Stop; that s assay, h p tion Qwh c a e spaced from each other, follow the configurations of the letters of the word Stop, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. D designates a plurality of cataphotes or lightreflecting buttons which are arranged with their forward portions extended through the apertures C. These cataphotes. or light-refl ng bu ns ar f o dina y wh -r c on and serve to reflect rays of light directed hereupo by utomobil h adl g and. the like. in a, manner to illuminate the sign, the

. rearmost, portions thereof being extended rearwardly fronrthe rear face of the panel; B. Also, the cataphotes or lightereflecting buttons are secured to the panel B in any suitable-manner, but since any of the various well known. fastening means may be employed for this purpose, and because such fastening means form no part of this invention same; has not been. illustrated in the drawings and will not be described; in this specification. V

Secured in any suitable mannerto the panel B of the sign A at the rear face of said panel is a pair of vertically separated g iding mem r he. g l ng mem ers.

1 are preferably shaped as shown in. Fig. 2; that isv to say, each thereof. comprises po tion 1 wh h Contac s with h a face of the panel B,an inter=mediate angular portion 1- which extends. at an approx mate right angle, with respect to the portion 1*,

and a portion,.1 which is spaced apartfroin e e rface of e pa l B; tthe sig to provide a, guideway between said; portion 1 and said rear face of the panel. The

. g iding m mbe s; are. i pos d ho zo a 1y, asshownin. Fig. 1, be1-ngextended sub-v stantially the full width of the panel B.

Slidingly supportechby the guiding members 1 is a housing 2 which encloses the rearwardlyextendedportions of the cataphotes or light-reflecting buttons C. The housing 2 comprises a rearwall 3 and top and bottom walls; and 5 which extend inwardly from therear wall 3 toward-the panel B of the. sign Extended upwardly fromthe top wall a. of. the housing is a; flange 6, and extended downwardly from the, bottom wall 5 isv a m lar: lang The. anges. and 7' r extended, into the guideways between. the portions 13 of the.v guiding members 1; and

he: ear ime. of he p ne 3:, aid flang eing; u stanti ly. he eng h the ho sing; 2. and said housing: being of a, length which is only slightly lessthan the width ofg the panel; B, as. shown; in Fig.; 1. The

housing at one end (the right-hand end in Fig. 1) is provided with an end wall 8 which closes the housing at that end, and a suitable gripping element 9 is fixed to said wall 8 so as to facilitate subjecting the housing to movement.

At the end thereof which is opposite to the end provided with the wall 8 the housing 2 is open, as shown most clearly in Fig. 3, and at the point where the open end of the housing is located when said housing is in its normal position I provide a wall 10 which is permanently fixed to the panel B.

.The wall 10 is substantially L-shaped in cross-section, one leg'thereof being in con tact with and being securely fixed to therear face of the panel', while the other leg, which is extended at a substantial right angle with respect to the first-mentioned leg, serves as a wall which closes the open end of the housing 2 when said housing is located as illustrated in Fig. 1. The housing is secured in its normal position by a bolt or other suit-' able fastening device 11 which is extended through said housing and, if desired, through the panel B, said bolt having associated therewith a nut 11 which is screwed on the'screw-threaded portion of the bolt 11 in order to securely fix the housing to the panel B. r

In the use of the improved sign disclosed herein, said sign is mounted on any suitable support by being permanently fixed thereto, and when it is desired to, remove the. housing 2 in order to gain access to the rear portion of the cataphotes or light-reflecting buttons C it isnecessary merely that the bolt 11 be removed, after which the gripping device 9- is grasped and the housing. slidingly moved, longitudinally of the guiding members 1. If desired, the housing may be entirely removed from the panel by moving same a sufficient distance to remove the flanges 6 and 7 from the guideways provided by the guiding members 1, or, if. preferred, the housing may bemoved-only a suflicient dis: tance to expose the cataphotes whichrequire. servicing. After the work of servicing the sign has been completed, the housing 2 may. be restored to its normal position, whereupon the bolt 11 will be replaced, so. asto securely fix the housing inplace. The wall 10 at the open end of the housing,,as already stated, closes this open endof said. housing, and also-said wall 10 serves as astop which locates the housing inits proper normal position with respect to, the panel. B.

It is apparent, therefore, that my, im.-. proved sign may be serviced at the-expense of: Very little time andeffort, and without removing said-sign from its support, wherebythe annoyance, and. inconvenience incident to removing the sign from itsv support.- as; was; necessary heretofore is entirely eliminated.

I claim:

1. A sign of the class described, comprising a panel, cataphotes supported by said panel, a housing mounted on said panel at the rear face thereof for enclosing the rearmost portions of said cataphotes, and means for supporting said housing for sliding movement with respect to said panel.

2. A sign of the class described, comprising a panel, cataphotes supported by said panel, a housing mounted on said panel at the rear face thereof for enclosing the rearmost portions of said cataphotes, and means for supporting said housing for sliding movement with respect to said panel, said means comprising guiding members fixed to said panel, and elements on said housing which are guided by said guiding members during movement of said housing.

3. A sign of the class described, comprising a panel, cataphotes supported by said panel, a housing mounted on said panel at the rear face thereof for enclosing the rearmost portions of said cataphotes, and means for supporting said housing for sliding movement with respect to said panel, said means comprising guiding members fixed to said panel, and elements comprising flanges on said housing which are guided by said guiding members during movement of said housing.

4. A sign of the class described, comprising a panel, cataphotes supported by said panel, a housing mounted on said panel at the rear face thereof for enclosing the rearmost portions of said cataphotes, means for supporting said housing for slidin movement with respect to said panel, sald housing being open at one of its ends, and a wall fixed to said panel for closing said housing when same is in its normal position.

5. A sign of the class described, comprising a panel, cataphotes supported by said panel, a housing mounted on said panel at the rear face thereof for enclosing the rearmost portions of said cataphotes, means for supporting said housing for sliding movement with respect to said panel, and a fast ening device for securing said housing in its normal position.

6. A sign of the class described, comprising a panel, cataphotes supported by said panel, a housing mounted on said panel at the rear face thereof for enclosing the rearmost portions of said cataphotes, means for supporting said housing for sliding movement with respect to said panel, and a single fastening device for securing said housing in its normal position.

7. A sign of the class described, comprising a panel, cataphotes supported by said panel, a housing mounted on said panel at panel, a housing mounted on said panel at the rear face thereof for enclosing the rearmost portions of said cataphotes, means for supporting said housing for sliding movement with respect to said panel, said means co1nprising guiding members fixed to said panel, and elements on said housing which are guided by said guiding members during movement of said housing, said housing being open at one of its ends, a Wall fixed to said panel for closing said housing when same is in its normal position, and fastening means for securing said housing in place.

8. A sign of the class described, comprising a panel, cataphotes supported by said panel, a housing mounted on said panel at the rear face thereof for enclosing the rearmost portions of said cataphotes, means for supporting said housing for sliding movement with respect to said panel, said means comprising guiding members fixed to said panel, and elements on said housing which are guided by said guiding members during movement of said housing, said housing being open at one of its ends, a Wall fixed to said panel for closing said housing when same is in its normal position, and a single fastening means for securing said housing in place.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I hereunto affix my signature.

STEPHEN S. ADAMS. 

